NYIKO
Photo credit: Niles Gregory
I first interviewed NYIKO a little while ago and he’s an artist I’ve been following and supporting ever since. His music is fun, catchy, uplifting, and it also feels nostalgic. He’s just released his debut album titled Honesty and I couldn’t be happier for him.
“While the songs were written over the course of a few years, I wanted the sequence to follow the narrative of falling in love, watching it fade, and the prospect of finding new love again. Loving someone is an art form itself. How you love someone is an expression of yourself. In that sense, all of the songs explore love as creation,” he explains.
While NYIKO delivers great songs, the singer/songwriter/producer also offers amazing visuals around the project (shout out to Niles Gregory for taking these dope photos) and it’s one of the things I love the most about him. NYIKO is an Artist and he knows who he is. Honesty is a beautiful and heartfelt project and I’m glad I got to interview him once again :)
Honesty is now available worldwide :)
Photo credit: Niles Gregory
Hi NYIKO! How are you? What have you been up to?
Hey, thanks for asking. I’ve been doing well. The pandemic has hit LA in a major way which has been scary, but I’ve been lucky enough to stay safe and use this time to focus on my health along with several creative projects. LP2 already in the works!
You’ve just released your debut album Honesty. How does it feel like to release your first record?
This record has been complete for a long time, but only my close collaborators have heard it, so it’s a bit strange. Besides that, I’m stoked for people to spend some time with it. It helped me process a lot of tough moments.
When did you start working on this project? At what point did you decide to make an album?
Some of the songs were written as far back as 2014. I finished the final mix in spring 2019, so the whole process took a little over four years. In the winter of 2018, I was sitting on about 30 demos that were at various stages of production. I combed through them with the help of some trusted ears and narrowed down 15 songs that felt cohesive for an album.
Who helped you create this album?
Kyler Hurley was a huge help in selecting the demos to move forward with. He also gave great production and mixing suggestions along the way. Niles Gregory played all the guitar parts and Stone Irr played all the bass except for “Call The Boys” - Maggie Toth tracked bass on that one. I essentially played the songs for them and then they tracked the parts, adding their strokes of genius here and there. Holander sang backup vocals on several tracks which helped elevate the choruses. Steve Kitch mastered the album. Beyond that, I leaned on a shortlist of close friends and collaborators to help provide feedback along the way.
What are the different topics you are talking about on this record?
The album title, Honesty, is the main theme of the record. Honesty in relationships, with yourself, with everything you do and make. It touches on the spectrum of love - love as art, heartache, starting a family, self-love, empathy, and setting an example for those that come after you.
What did you feel when writing "Four Years"?
“Four Years” was written in 2014 when I was still living in Vermont. It served as a sort of elegy for the traumatic end to a long-term relationship. In the moments of writing and recording it, I felt a sense of sadness and catharsis. Three years after writing it, I was going through my phone and found the original voice memo. Hearing that memo inspired me to build the production around it. Even then, I wasn’t quite sure if it was going to fit with the record. Sometimes finishing a piece of art can bring closure to the thing that inspired it.
What made you want to name your record Honesty?
There is a song on the record with the same title. Even at the demo phase, I felt like that song was a mission statement. Before I named the record, I used the song “Honesty” as a Northstar in guiding what songs could fit around it while staying cohesive. Once I compiled all the songs, the theme of honesty was naturally woven into the record.
Any favorite memories from the making of this album?
The memories that stick out the most are the times that I was collaborating with others. Tracking the parts with Niles, Stone, Maggie, and Holander all had their energy. I remember first playing “Like The Movies” and “Honesty” for Kyler and he got super excited. In those moments I knew I was onto something with those songs.
What was the hardest part about making this project?
Mixing. Hands down. I learned how to mix for this record. I spent a solid month devouring every youtube tutorial and online course on mixing that I could find. It was a true education and there were moments that I wanted to quit and just send it off for someone else to do. I’m really glad I stuck it out though. It’s empowering to feel confident in mixing your own material.
What did you learn about yourself after finishing this album?
I learned that a song is never truly done so sometimes you just need to give yourself deadlines and stick to them. I learned that mixing your own material can be hard. I learned that collaboration is essential for any project.
For those who don't know, what different things an artist needs to do before releasing a project like an album?
Oh boy. A lot. In an effort to keep it simple - you’ll want to release several of the songs as singles leading up to the album. Take great photos. Get a press release together and start pitching the album for opportunities at least two months out. Identify unique ways to communicate with your fans about your songs and keep that momentum going well after the release. Engage with your audience as often as possible.
What is your goal for Honesty?
I want a lot of people to hear this record because it speaks to the experiences of love that a lot of us can relate to. The albums I listened to while I was growing up were formative in creating fond memories. I’d love for Honesty to become that for someone.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
I took a day trip outside of LA with my dear friend and collaborator Niles Gregory back in 2018. He found this epic location and we spent several hours getting shots. The one I chose for the cover of Honesty is significant for a few reasons. The most obvious is the setting. I’m wearing a full suit and standing on a massive rock formation dating back millions of years. For me, the contrast of organic and man-made material speaks to the way music is created and heard. It’s a constant marriage of the organic - the act of hearing, and man-made - instruments and recording technology. The viewer is placed at the bottom of the rock looking up - a nod to the way we aspire to greatness and perfection in our work and our lives. Finally, if you look closely, I’m holding a bouquet of white flowers. Throughout art history, white flowers have symbolized truth, purity, and honesty. I’m proud of how the image came together and it wouldn’t have been possible with Niles and his incredible talent.
What do you want to accomplish professionally and personally?
Professionally I want to be a full-time artist while continuing to do more of the production work I’ve completed for other artists. Some measures of success for me are to have a song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, have a project go platinum, and win a Grammy, but even more importantly, hearing directly from fans saying that my songs helped or inspired them is a huge marker of success for me.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
If you want to achieve something, it is always best to be patient, persistent, and kind.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
Be honest with yourself and everything you do. Listen to each other with empathy. Lead with love.
Connect with NYIKO: